A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, ( )

Anyone that regularly writes should keep this book nearby as a handy reference volume on word usage and composition style. ( )

THE Bible. A must. ( )

William Strunk, Jr., was a professor of English at Cornell University in the 1920s who, in his own inimitable way, waged a quiet war against imprecise language. The book is not long; it contains only "eleven rules of usage, eleven principles of composition, a few matters of form, a list of words and expressions commonly misused," and a chapter on style by the editor, E.B. White; but its message is powerful:

"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell."

Although the content of this little volume is excellent, it is the brevity, simplicity and, above all, the style of this book that make it so wonderful. Strunk states his rules of usage not as suggestions but as direct orders: "Do not affect a breezy manner" - "Omit needless words" - "Revise and rewrite." He is not a man of compromise and his attitude toward English usage is very refreshing. Here is a typically delightful paragraph:

"*Flammable*. An oddity, chiefly used in saving lives. The common word meaning 'combustible' is *inflammable*. But some people are thrown off by the *in-* and think *inflammable* means 'not combustible.' For this reason, trucks carrying gasoline or explosives are marked FLAMMABLE. Unless you are operating such a truck and hence are concerned with the safety of children and illiterates, use *inflammable*."

*The Elements of Style* is a rare thing: a grammar book that can be read through, again and again, and which can raise a smile at every turn. ( )

Outstanding advice for writers of every stripe. Read it. Heed it. Ignore it at your peril. ( )